2
The Problem Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471), The Imitation of Christ From Book 2, Chapter 11 "On the Few Lovers of the Cross of Jesus": Jesus has many who love His Kingdom in Heaven, but few who bear His Cross. 1/31/11

3
From Book 2, Chapter 12 "On the Royal Road of the Holy Cross" Why, then, do you fear to take up the Cross, which is the road to the Kingdom? In the Cross is salvation; in the Cross is life; in the Cross is protection against our enemies; in the Cross is infusion of heavenly sweetness; in the Cross is strength of mind; in the Cross is joy of spirit; in the Cross is excellence of virtue; in the Cross is perfection of holiness. 1/31/11

4
From Book 2, Chapter 12 "On the Royal Road of the Holy Cross" There is no salvation of soul, nor hope of eternal life, save in the Cross. Take up the Cross, therefore, and follow Jesus, and go forward into eternal life. Christ has gone before you, bearing His Cross; He died for you on the Cross, that you also may bear your cross, and desire to die on the cross with Him. For if you die with Him, you will also live with Him. And if you share His sufferings, you will also share His glory. 1/31/11

5
The Cross is here declared to be the path to Freedomhow does it work? Many have started on the path hoping for great freedom but have slowed and are in various stages of disappointment Many Christians are trying to become perfect but they have thin souls, not strong enough to make the changes they desire 1/31/11

6
We Need Fat Souls to Make It SCV Dream Story: The Power of Fat Proverbs 28:25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat (KJV) 1/31/11

7
St. Augustine (354-430) in The Confessions (Book 1, Ch. 5) Narrow is the mansion of my soul; enlarge Thou it, that Thou mayest enter in. It is ruinous! Repair Thou it. It has that within which must offend Thine eyes; I confess and know it. But who shall cleanse it? Or to whom should I cry, save Thee? Lord, cleanse me from my secret faults, and spare Thy servant from the power of the enemy. 1/31/11

8
Why Do Our Souls Remain Thin? Key text: Gal. 4:9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? 1/31/11

9
Resisting Grace Not letting ourselves be known by God: various forms of hiding from love Places the omnipresent God isnt Things the omniscient God doesnt know (Jer. 7:31) Sermon on Mount: I did not know you Bonhoeffer on the difficulty of finding each others eyes 1/31/11

10
Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), from On Humility and Pride There are many ways of making excuses for sin. One person will say, "I did not do it." Another will say, "I did it but it was the right thing to do." Another will admit that it was wrong but say, "It was not very wrong." Another will concede that it was very wrong, but he will say, "I meant well." If he is forced to admit that he did not mean well, he will say as happened in the case of Adam and Eve, that someone else persuaded him to do it. 1/31/11

11
Bernard of Clairvaux If a man defends even his obvious sins in that way, when will he humbly confess to his abbot his hidden sins and the wicked thoughts which come into his heart? 1/31/11

12
Gerald May (Addiction and Grace) on Elements of Denial: Rationalization Hiding Delaying Tactics I cant handle it I can handle it Breakdown Collusion (secret agreements) 1/31/11

13
How Can We Get a Fat Soul? Many Hebrew words for Fat (almost like Eskimo words for snow) One word is often used to depict a good fat rather than a bad fat Dashen: to be fat, become fat, grow fat, become prosperous, anoint 1/31/11

14
In Christ (Psalm 22) NAB Psalm 22:29 All the prosperous (dashen: fat, KJV) of the earth will eat and worship, All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him, Even he who cannot keep his soul alive. 1/31/11

15
In Fellowship NAB Psalm 92:12-14 The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 Planted in the house of the LORD, They will flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap (dashen: fat, KJV) and very green, 15 To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. 1/31/11

16
Giving NAB Proverbs 11:25 The generous man will be prosperous (dashen: made fat, KJV), And he who waters will himself be watered. 1/31/11

17
Diligent NAB Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat (dashen). 1/31/11

23
Keep Walking Forward Phil 2:12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. 1/31/11

24
Keep a Good Attitude (as best you can!) 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life 1/31/11

25
As we trust that God is with us, loves us, wants us to improve, as we keep coming back to Him, as we accept our sin and our addictions, as we tell others without shame, as we ask for help, as we struggle forward, as we abide in Him, our souls will get fatter and fatterthere will come a day when our greatest struggles will not be enough to restrain the breaking forward of our souls 1/31/11